This
typical public elementary school in Hollywood (just a few blocks west of
Grauman's Chinese
Theatre) boasts at least one very famous alumnus.

Michael Jackson,
the "King of Pop," was a 6th grade student here back when
he was a normal 11-year-old; he attended class here in the daytime and
performed as an emerging musical superstar at night, with his family group
"The Jackson Five."
His early hit songs back then included "ABC," "The
Love You Save" and "I'll Be There."

In 1989, Gardner
Street Elementary named the school auditorium after "the gloved one."
Gleaming silver letters across the front of the building now read: "The
Michael Jackson Auditorium" ; Michael
himself showed up for the unveiling.

In return, Jackson
sort of adopted his old school; he paid the salary for the school's music
teacher, he planted memorial rose bushes near the playground, and even
left his famous signature on the wall of his old 6th grade schoolroom.

At the height of
the scandal surrounding accusations of child molestation, in 2003, the
school chose to cover up his name from the auditorium.

However, in October
of 2010, following Michael's death (and a public petition drive to restore
his name), the boards covering his name were removed, and Michael
Jackson's name once again gleams on the school auditorium.

Unfortunately, one other
former student from Garner recently made the headlines: Mikhail Markhasev,
the man convicted of shooting to death Ennis
Cosby. The son on comedian Bill
Cosby was northbound on the San Diego
(405) Freeway, when he pulled off the freeway onto the Mulholland offramp
to fix a flat tire. There, he encountered Markhasev, who shot him during
a failed robbery attempt.

Getting
there: The
school is located at the southeast corner of N. Gardner Street and Hawthorn
Avenue in Hollywood (south of Hollywood
Blvd and north of Sunset)
The Michael Jackson auditorium is visible from Gardner Street.

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